The purpose of this study was to test the utility of draft
guidelines in informing judicial decisions about bail. A sample of
judges, based upon a stratified quota sampling design, was selected
from the Philadephia Municipal Court to rule on sample cases. Eight
judges were randomly selected to use guidelines and be "experimental
judges," and eight others were randomly selected to be nonguideline or
"control judges." Data for the sample cases were taken from
defendants' files. Variables provided in this collection include
number of suspects involved, number of different offenses charged,
most serious injury experienced by the victim(s), preliminary
arraignment disposition, amount of bail, socioeconomic status and
demographics of the defendant, prior criminal history of the
defendant, and reason for granting or denying bail.

The purpose of this study was to test the utility of draft
guidelines in informing judicial decisions about bail. A sample of
judges, based upon a stratified quota sampling design, was selected
from the Philadephia Municipal Court to rule on sample cases. Eight
judges were randomly selected to use guidelines and be "experimental
judges," and eight others were randomly selected to be nonguideline or
"control judges." Data for the sample cases were taken from
defendants' files. Variables provided in this collection include
number of suspects involved, number of different offenses charged,
most serious injury experienced by the victim(s), preliminary
arraignment disposition, amount of bail, socioeconomic status and
demographics of the defendant, prior criminal history of the
defendant, and reason for granting or denying bail.

Access Notes

One or more data files in this study are set up in a non-standard format, such as card image format. Users
may need help converting these files before they can be used for analysis.

The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public.
Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.